Blackjack Variation with Additional Player Options

ABSTRACT

A method, system, and computer readable storage medium to provide a blackjack variation to be played in a casino. After each player has reviewed his or her initial two cards, each player then has the option to double their wager and receive an unlimited number of cards, or triple their wager and receive a single card. Then, play can proceed and each player wins or loses their wagers according to a comparison of point totals between the player&#39;s hand and the dealer&#39;s hand.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present inventive concept relates to a system, method, and computerreadable storage, for playing a variation of a casino blackjack game.

2. Description of the Related Art

A standard game of casino blackjack is well known in the art and can beplayed as follows. To start the game the player places a wager,typically using chips which are redeemable for cash. The dealer deals aninitial two card hand to the dealer (one card face up, one card facedown), and two cards to the player (either face up or face down, howeverthe player is permitted to view both of his or her own cards). Theplayer can then decide to hit or stand. If the player decides to hit,the player is then dealt an additional card (typically face up). Theplayer can continue to hit until the player decides to stand, or untilthe player's point total has exceeded 21 (in which the player has“busted” and loses).

Once the player has finished playing out his or her hand, the dealerthen reveals the dealer's initial two card hand and decides to hit orstand according to predetermined house rules. For example, the dealercan continue to hit until the dealer has a total (either soft or hard)of 17, or until the dealer's hard point total exceeds 21 (in which thedealer has busted).

After the dealer has played out the dealer's hand, a point total of theplayer's hand is compared to a point total of the dealer's hand. If theplayer's point total is higher than the dealer's point total (and theplayer has not busted), then the player wins (and typically gets paideven money on the player's wager). If the player's point total is lowerthan the dealer's point total, then the player loses and the house takesthe player's wager. If the player's point total ties the dealer's pointtotal, then the hand is considered a “push” and the player does not winor lose.

The player can also double after viewing the player's initial two cardsand the dealer's upcard by placing a double wager alongside the player'soriginal wager. The double wager is equal in amount to the player'soriginal wager. The player then receives only one additional card.

The standard game of blackjack has become boring to some players, whoare looking for new and exciting games. Therefore, what is needed is anew and exciting blackjack variation in which some players may find moreexciting than the standard version.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an aspect of the present general inventive concept to provide animprovement to the standard casino game of blackjack.

The above aspects can also be obtained by a method that includes (a)receiving an initial wager from a player; (b) dealing an initialplayer's hand and an initial dealer's hand; (c) receiving from theplayer a choice from at least the following four options: 1) double theinitial wager; 2) triple the initial wager; 3) hit; 4) stand; (d) if theplayer's choice is double, then receiving a double wager from the playerequal in amount to the initial wager and conducting a draw sequencewherein the player can draw as many cards in succession as the playerwishes until the player busts; (e) if the player's choice is triple,then receiving a triple wager from the player equal to double in amountto the initial wager and dealing only one additional card to the player;(f) if the player's choice is hit, then not receiving an additionalwager from the player and conducting a draw sequence wherein the playercan draw as many cards in succession as the player wishes until theplayer busts; (g) if the player's choice is stand, then the player doesnot receive any additional cards; (h) resolving the dealer's handaccording to predetermined rules; and (i) taking or paying all wagersplaced by the player based on a comparison of the player's point totaland the dealer's point total.

These together with other aspects and advantages which will besubsequently apparent, reside in the details of construction andoperation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, whereinlike numerals refer to like parts throughout.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further features and advantages of the present invention, as well as thestructure and operation of various embodiments of the present invention,will become apparent and more readily appreciated from the followingdescription of the preferred embodiments, taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings of which:

FIG. 1 is a flowchart illustrating an exemplary method of implementing awagering game, according to an embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a drawing of a sample table layout, according to anembodiment; and

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating sample hardware that can be usedto implement an electronic version of the methods described herein,according to an embodiment.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Reference will now be made in detail to the presently preferredembodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to likeelements throughout.

The general inventive concept relates to an improvement of the standardcasino blackjack game. Blackjack is a well known casino game and isdescribed in US application publication 2003/0155715, which isincorporated by reference herein in its entirety for all purposes.

The improvement comprises offering the player additional options afterthe player has been dealt the initial player's hand comprising twocards. After the player has been dealt the initial two cards, the playercan have the option to double and match the player's original wager, ortriple and place an additional wager of two times the original wager. Ifthe player decides to double down then the player will not be limited toonly one additional card but can continue to draw additional cards untilthe player decides to stop (or until the player busts). If the playerdecides to triple down, then the player will get only one additionalcard.

FIG. 1 is a flowchart illustrating an exemplary method of implementing awagering game, according to an embodiment.

The method can begin with operation 100, which starts by receiving aninitial wager from a player. This can be done as known in the art, forexample, by the player placing chips in a betting circle on the tablefelt. This wager wins (operation 118) based on whether the playerultimately wins the game (e.g., the player's hand beats the dealer'shand and the play did not bust), and loses if the player ultimatelyloses (operation 118) the game (e.g., the player busts or the dealer'shand beats the player's hand).

From operation 100, the method can proceed to operation 102, wherein adealer deals a player's initial hand and a dealer's initial hand.Typically, the player's initial hand is comprised of two cards dealtface up. The player's initial hand can also be dealt face down, as longas the player is afforded the opportunity to review both of the player'scards. The dealer's initial hand also comprises two cards, one dealtface up (the “upcard”) and one dealt face down. The players typicallyconsider the value of the upcard when the player is deciding on how toplayer their own hand.

From operation 102, the method can proceed to operation 104, wherein theplayer takes a course of action of the player's choosing. The player canelect one course of action, whether to hit, stand, double, triple, orsplit (not pictured). The player can indicate his or her preference byverbally telling the dealer his or her choice and/or using a handsignal.

The player can stand, and not take any additional cards, which thenproceeds to operation 116 (to be discussed below in more detail).

During operation 104, the player can elect to hit, in which the playerdecides to take additional card(s) but does not place an additionalwager. If the player elects to hit, the method can proceed to operation108, wherein the dealer deals the player an additional card.

From operation 108, the method can proceed to operation 110, whichdetermines if the player has busted (exceeded a point total of 21). Ifthe player busts, then the method can proceed to operation 116, althoughthe player loses.

If in operation 110, the player does not bust, then the method canproceed to operation 112, which determines whether the player wantsanother hit. The player makes this determination and indicates his orher decision to the dealer. If the player wants another hit, then themethod can return to operation 108.

If in operation 112, the player does not want another hit, then themethod can proceed to operation 116.

If during operation 104, the player decides to double, then the methodcan proceed to operation 106, which receives a double wager from theplayer. In one embodiment, the double wager is equal in amount to theinitial wager placed in operation 100. For example, if the initial wager(placed in operation) is $10, then if the player wishes to double andproceed to operation 104, then the player places a double wager of $10(for a total of $20, hence the player has “doubled.”) However, theplayer cannot place a wager more than $10 (the initial wager) and stillmake it to this operation. According to house rules, the double wagermay also be allowed to be an amount less than the initial wager. Fromoperation 106, the method can proceed to operation 108, as discussedpreviously. If the player wishes to place a wager which is more than theinitial wager, then the player would “triple” instead.

Thus, hitting and doubling are almost the same procedure, but for if theplayer elects to double, the player also places the double wager inoperation 106.

If during operation 104, the player elects to triple, then the methodcan proceed to operation 114 which receives a triple wager from theplayer and deals to the player a single additional card. In anembodiment, the triple wager is double the amount of the initial wagerplaced in operation 100. For example, if the player placed an initialwager of $5 (in operation 100), then the player can place a triple wagerof $10 (for a total of $15, hence tripling the initial wager). Theplayer would not be allowed to place a triple wager greater than $10(double the initial wager). According to house rules, the player mayalso be allowed to place as the triple wager an amount less than equalto double the amount of the initial wager placed in operation 100 butgreater than the amount of the initial wager. For example, if the playerplaces an initial wager of $10, then the player can “triple for less” bybetting an additional $11 (which is greater than $10 and less then $20).If the player wants to triple for less than the initial wager (e.g., theinitial wager is $10 and the player wants to place an additional $9wager), then the player would really be doubling (not tripling) andwould be allowed to take an unlimited number of additional cards. Fromoperation 114, the method proceeds to operation 116.

In operation 116, the dealer's hand is resolved. This entails playingout the dealer's hand according to predetermined rules. For example, thedealer can continue to draw cards until the dealer has a point total of17 or greater.

From operation 116, the method can proceed to operation 118, whichresolves the wagers placed. This can be done by comparing the player'shand to the dealer's hand, and determining who wins according topredetermined rules. If the player's has busted (exceeded a hard pointtotal of 21), then the player loses. If the dealer has busted and theplayer has not busted, then the player wins. If both the dealer and theplayer have not busted, then if the player has a higher point total thanthe dealer, then the player wins. If both the dealer and the player havenot busted, then if the dealer has a higher point total then the player,then the dealer wins. If both the dealer and the player have not bustedand the dealer's point total equals the player's point total, then thehand is considered a push, and neither the player nor the dealer wins.

If the dealer wins, then the player loses his or her initial wager, andany double wager made (if the player doubled) or any triple wager made(if the player tripled). If the player wins, then the player wins evenmoney on the initial wager and even money on any double wager made (ifthe player doubled) or any triple wager made (if the player tripled).

After operation 118, the game is considered over. The dealer can collecteveryone's cards and the method can begin again at operation 100.

Table I below lists one set of exemplary rules. “Double up” in item 4refers to doubling, as described in operation 106 and elsewhere. “Tripledown” in item 5 refers to tripling, as described in operation 114 andelsewhere.

TABLE I 1. Blackjack pays 1-to-1. 2. Dealer always hits on soft 17. 3.Ordinary Double Downs are not allowed. 4. Player can Double Up on anyfirst two cards, and take one or more additional cards. 5. Player canTriple Down on any first two cards, and receive only one additionalcard. 6. Player can split Aces only once, split Aces receive one cardonly. 7. Player can split non-Aces up to three times (four hands intotal). 8. Player is not allowed to Double Up or Triple Down aftersplitting. 9. Player is not allowed to Double Up or Triple Down after aDouble Up or Triple Down.

Note that in Table I, blackjacks pay 1 to 1 (even money). This is lessthan the 3:2 or 6:5 that some casino blackjack games pay in order tooffset the advantage to the player of being able to take unlimited cardson a double or being able to triple.

Table II below illustrates an optimal strategy for the game rules asdescribed herein including Table I. The optimal strategy in Table IIreflects a six deck game which allows doubling and tripling on allinitial hands. The number in the first column is the point total of theplayer's initial hand, while the number in the first row is the value ofthe dealer's upcard. In Table II, H=hit, D=double/hit (double if firsttwo cards, otherwise hit); T=triple/hit (triple if first two cards,otherwise hit), S=stand, P=split, and Ts=Triple down/stand (triple iffirst two cards, otherwise stand).

TABLE II Dealer's Card 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 T A 05 H H H H D H H H H H 06 H HH H D H H H H H 07 H H H D D H H H H H 08 H D D D D D H H H H 09 D D T TT D D H H H 10 T T T T T T T D D D 11 T T T T T T T T T D 12 H H S S S HH H H H 13 S S S S S H H H H H 14 S S S S S H H H H H 15 S S S S S H H HH H 16 S S S S S H H H H H 17 S S S S S S S S S S 18 S S S S S S S S S S19 S S S S S S S S S S 20 S S S S S S S S S S 21 S S S S S S S S S S A,2 D D D D D D D H H H A, 3 D D D D T D D H H H A, 4 H D D T T D H H H HA, 5 H D T T T H H H H H A, 6 H T T T T D H H H H A, 7 Ts T T T T S S HH H A, 8 S T T T T S S S S S A, 9 S S T T T S S S S S A, T S S S S S S SS S S 2, 2 H H P P P P H H H H 3, 3 H H P P P P H H H H 4, 4 H D D D D DH H H H 5, 5 T T T T T T T D D D 6, 6 H P P P P H H H H H 7, 7 P P P P PP H H H H 8, 8 P P P P P P P P P P 9, 9 P P P P P S P P S S T, T S S S SS S S S S S A, A P P P P P P P P P P

Thus, it can be appreciated that the player will have to make a strategychoice as to when to hit, double, triple, stand (and possibly split). Ifthe player is in a very good situation, the player will want to triple,for example if the player has an eleven and the dealer has a two throughten. If the player is in a relatively good situation, but not a greatsituation, the player may then best double. For example, if the playerhas a five and the dealer has a six, the player would be better offdoubling but not tripling. This is because by doubling the player getsto draw as many cards as the player wishes (until the player busts orstands), and the player will probably win the hand. But if the playertripled in this situation, the player would only receive one card, whichwould mean regardless of what the player draws, the player would winonly if the dealer busts.

Many blackjack players who have grown tired of the standard game ofblackjack would likely find the additional strategy options as describedherein to be a more exciting and challenging game. There is also moreroom for the player to make strategy mistakes than the standard casinoversion (since the versions described herein contain an additionaloption), thereby benefiting the house since more player mistakes resultin more house profit on the game.

FIG. 2 is a drawing of a sample table layout, according to anembodiment.

A gaming table 200 contains a felt with outlines of betting circles andcan accommodate five simultaneous players (although of course any othernumber of players can be accommodated). A dealer's initial hand 201 isdealt. A first player's initial hand 202 is also dealt. The first playeralso has three betting circles, a main betting circle 203 for the firstplayer's initial wager, a double betting circle 204 for the firstplayer's double wager, and a triple betting circle 205 for the firstplayer's triple wager. The double betting circle 204 and the triplebetting circle 205 are not required to be present on the gaming table200. An advantage of using the latter two betting circles is that it iseasier for the dealer (and the surveillance cameras as well) to identifywhether the player is intending to double or triple. If such bettingcircles aren't used, then the player's intent can still be ascertainedby the amount of the player's additional bet. For example, if the playeris betting more than an amount equal to the initial wager, then it canbe concluded that the player intends to triple and hence will only getone card.

The other four players at the gaming table 200 have similar bettingcircles to be used in a similar fashion.

An example of how the game can be played will now be presented. Ofcourse this is just one example of a round of the game to illustrate themethods described herein. Since the game is dealt randomly, a very largenumber of different possible games can occur. Joe, Bill, and Tina sitdown at a gaming table in a casino. Joe makes an initial bet of $5, Billmakes an initial bet of $10, and Tina makes an initial bet of $10. Thedealer then deals Joe a ten of clubs and a six of diamonds; deals Bill a5 of clubs and a four of hearts; and deals Tina a six of spades and afive of spades. The dealer deals himself two cards, a downcard and anupcard of nine hearts.

Joe decides to hit and receives a ten of hearts, for a point total of26. Thus, Joe has busted and loses his $5. Bill decides to double,places a $10 double wager on the table, and draws a 2 of diamonds, for apoint total of eleven. Bill decides to draw (hit) again and draws a 10of spades for a point total of twenty-one. Since Bill chose to double,Bill could take as many cards as he wants (until Bill busts), but ofcourse he wishes to stop now since twenty-one is the best point totalpossible in this game. Tina decides to triple and places a triple wagerof $20 on the table. Tina draws an ace of spades. For a point total of12. Even if Tina wanted to hit again, since Tina tripled, Tina islimited to the one card she received. Had Tina decided to double insteadof triple, Tina would be able to hit as many additional times as shewants (until she busts). But if Tina decided to double, she would onlybe allowed to bet an additional $10 (or less), as opposed to the $20wager that she had placed when she tripled. Tina can still win if thedealer busts.

The dealer now resolves his own hand. The dealer now reveals thedealer's downcard to reveal a four of clubs. Thus, the dealer's pointtotal is thirteen. According to house rules, the dealer willautomatically hit until the dealer reaches a point total of 17 orhigher. So the dealer draws a card which is a five of spades, for apoint total of eighteen.

Now the wagers are resolved. Bill has already lost (since Bill busted),and if the dealer didn't take Bill's initial $5 bet when he busted, thedealer will take it now. Joe has a point total of twenty one which ishigher than the dealer's point total of eighteen, thus Joe wins. Joewins an even money payout on his initial wager of $10 and his doublewager of $10, thus Joe wins a total of $20. The dealer will pay Joe atotal of $20 in chips alongside Joe's $20 in chips Joe wagered, therebyleaving $40 in chips for Joe to take. Tina has a point total of twelve,which is lower then the dealer's point total of eighteen, thus Tinaloses. The dealer takes Tina's original wager of $10 and her triplewager of $20, thus resulting in a loss of $30 for Tina.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating sample hardware that can be usedto implement an electronic version of the methods described herein,according to an embodiment. Electronic versions of the game can beplayed on an electronic gaming device or online using a computer clientconnected to the Internet.

A processing unit 300 can be connected to an output device 301 such as atouchscreen, CRT, plasma display, etc. The processing unit 300 is alsoconnected to an input device, such as a touchscreen, keyboard, mouse,etc. The processing unit 300 is also connected to a network connection303 which can connect to any type of computer communications network,such as a LAN, WAN, the Internet, etc. The processing unit 300 is alsoconnected to a RAM 304 and a storage device 305 which can be a ROM, harddrive, CD-ROM, DVD drive, or any known storage device. Computer readablestorage medium 306 can be a CD, DVD, etc., which stores assets(programs, media files, etc.) which can be used to control a computer toimplement the methods described herein. The processing unit 300 can alsobe connected to a financial apparatus 307 which on an electronic gamingdevice located in a casino can be used to collect cash from a player andto pay payouts to the payer (either in the form of cash, coins, tickets,or electronic payouts).

It is noted that the methods described herein can be played using anynumber of decks (e.g., 1-8 or more). Standard decks of 52 cards can beused, as well as other kinds of decks, such as Spanish decks, decks withwild cards, etc. The operations described herein can be performed in anysensible order. Furthermore, numerous different variants of house rulescan be applied. For example, the dealer can hit on soft 17 or stand onsoft 17, depending on house rules. Cards can be given their standardpoint values as known in the art (e.g., 2-10 have their face value,jack, queen, and king, have a point value of 10, and ace has a pointvalue of 1 or eleven).

The descriptions provided herein also include any hardware and/orsoftware known in the art and needed to implement the operationsdescribed herein. Further, all methods described herein can beprogrammed on a digital computer and stored on any type of computerreadable storage medium.

The many features and advantages of the invention are apparent from thedetailed specification and, thus, it is intended by the appended claimsto cover all such features and advantages of the invention that fallwithin the true spirit and scope of the invention. Further, sincenumerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilledin the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exactconstruction and operation illustrated and described, and accordinglyall suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, fallingwithin the scope of the invention.

1. A method to play a wagering game, the method comprising: receiving aninitial wager from a player; dealing an initial player's hand and aninitial dealer's hand; receiving from the player a choice from at leastthe following four options: 1) double the initial wager; 2) triple theinitial wager; 3) hit; 4) stand; if the player's choice is double, thenreceiving a double wager from the player equal in amount to the initialwager and conducting a draw sequence wherein the player can draw as manycards in succession as the player wishes until the player busts; if theplayer's choice is triple, then receiving a triple wager from the playerequal to double in amount to the initial wager and dealing only oneadditional card to the player; if the player's choice is hit, then notreceiving an additional wager from the player and conducting a drawsequence wherein the player can draw as many cards in succession as theplayer wishes until the player busts; if the player's choice is stand,then the player does not receive any additional cards; resolving thedealer's hand according to predetermined rules; and taking or paying allwagers placed by the player based on a comparison of the player's pointtotal and the dealer's point total.
 2. The method as recited in claim 1,wherein the choice of option also comprises 5) split.
 3. The method asrecited in claim 1, wherein if the player receives a winning blackjackin the initial player's hand, the player is paid even money on theinitial wager and the game ends for the player.
 4. An electronic gamingmachine apparatus to implement a wagering game, the apparatuscomprising: a processing unit performing: receiving an initial wagerfrom a player; dealing an initial player's hand and an initial dealer'shand; receiving from the player a choice from at least the followingfour options: 1) double the initial wager; 2) triple the initial wager;3) hit; 4) stand; if the player's choice is double, then receiving adouble wager from the player equal in amount to the initial wager andconducting a draw sequence wherein the player can draw as many cards insuccession as the player wishes until the player busts; if the player'schoice is triple, then receiving a triple wager from the player equal todouble in amount to the initial wager and dealing only one additionalcard to the player; if the player's choice is hit, then not receiving anadditional wager from the player and conducting a draw sequence whereinthe player can draw as many cards in succession as the player wishesuntil the player busts; if the player's choice is stand, then the playerdoes not receive any additional cards; resolving the dealer's handaccording to predetermined rules; taking or paying all wagers placed bythe player based on a comparison of the player's point total and thedealer's point total; and an output device connected to the processingunit to display the game.
 5. The apparatus as recited in claim 4,wherein the choice of option also comprises 5) split.
 6. The apparatusas recited in claim 4, wherein if the player receives a winningblackjack in the initial player's hand, the player is paid even money onthe initial wager and the game ends for the player.